Learn Hardcore Dutch: Ik ga nu verder met mijn werk, want ik waardeer deze rustige sfeer. - I will now continue with my work, because I appreciate this calm atmosphere.

“Verdergaan” means “to continue” or “to proceed.” In Dutch, many verbs are separable, which means that when they’re conjugated in a main clause, the prefix (“verder”) is detached and placed at the end of the clause, while the auxiliary (“ga”) appears in the second position. Thus, “Ik ga nu verder met mijn werk” conveys “I am now continuing with my work.”

Why is the time adverb “nu” positioned between the finite verb “ga” and the separable part “verder”?

Dutch word order in simple main clauses typically follows the V2 (verb-second) rule, meaning the conjugated verb must appear in the second position. Adverbs that indicate time, like “nu” (now), are often placed right after the finite verb to emphasize when the action takes place. Here, “nu” comes immediately after “ga” and before the separated part “verder.”

How does the coordinating conjunction “want” function in this sentence, and why doesn’t it cause an inversion in the word order of the following clause?

In this sentence, “want” serves as a coordinating conjunction equivalent to “because” in English. It connects two independent clauses without changing the normal subject–verb order in the second clause. Unlike subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions in Dutch do not trigger verb-final placement; that’s why the clause “ik waardeer deze rustige sfeer” maintains its straightforward order.

Why is there a comma before “want” in the sentence, and is it required?

The comma before “want” is used to clearly separate the two independent clauses and signal the causal connection between them. While Dutch punctuation rules allow some flexibility with coordinating conjunctions, including a comma here is common practice as it helps clarify the sentence structure and ensures readability.

What is the role of the adjective “rustige” in the sentence, and why does it have an –e ending?

“Rustige” is an adjective modifying the noun “sfeer” (atmosphere), describing it as calm or quiet. In Dutch, when an adjective appears before a noun accompanied by a definite article or demonstrative (in this case, “deze” meaning “this”), it typically takes an –e ending. That’s why we see “deze rustige sfeer” to mean “this calm atmosphere.”

What does the phrase “met mijn werk” add to the sentence, and how is it correctly structured?

The phrase “met mijn werk” translates to “with my work” and specifies what the speaker is going to continue. It functions as an adverbial phrase that explains the focus of the action. Its structure follows Dutch prepositional phrase rules, where “met” (with) is the preposition and “mijn werk” (my work) is the object, clearly indicating the subject matter of the continuation.